Cleaning apparatus



Uct. 16 1923.

P. E. DEMMLER CLEANING APPARATUS Filed June 17, 1918 if Fzyy 20wY 20aPaw/E. Denim/@74 TTORNEY Patented 9ct. 16, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL E. DEMHLER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO WESTINGHOUSEELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CLEANING APPARATUS.

Application led Jane 17, 1918. -Serial No. 240,559.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PAUL E. DEMMLER, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Cleaning Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to cleaning apparatus for hollow articles in whicha vaporized solvent is employed as the cleanser, and it has for/anobject the provision of a cleaning apparatus of the class describedwhich shall be simple in construction and eiiicient and economical inoperation.

My apparatus is designed to clean hollow articles, particularly shellcasings, by bringing a vaporized solvent into contact with the surfaceto be cleaned, where it condenses and runs off, together with removedforeign matter, and is returned to a vaporizer to be used again. Iprovide also means whereby the solvents may be kept in a sulicientlypuriied state without discontinuing the operation of the apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a cleaningapparatus embodying my invention, showing one part in operation; Fig. 2is a side view, partly in elevation and partl in section, illustratingmore ,clearly the disposition of the several elements; Fig. 3 is avertical sectional view, on a larger scale, of a valved nozzle which maybe used in apparatus embodying my invention.

In order to insure a clear and accurate understanding of my invention,reference may be had to the drawings in which is shown one form ofapparatus embodying such invention.

My invention consists broadly of a vaporizer having valved nozzlesleading therelfrom, means for returning condensed vapor to the vaporizerfrom the article being cleaned and means for cleaning the vaporizerwithout discontinuing the operation of the apparatus. A preferred orm,however, of my invention, as shown in the drawings', includes aplurality of closed solvent containers or vaporizers. and related parts,together with the addltlonal elements1 necessary for the operation Aofan apparatus inmaccordance with my invention. The several vaporizers andthe accompanying parts of each being identical, a description of one ofthe vaporizers and its accompanying parts will clearly disclose theconstruction of my apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a vaporizer or solvent container whichhas heating pipes 2 'suitably disposed therein. A cover 3 is fastenedtothe vaporizer 1 by bolts 4 and nuts 5 or other suitable means, thecover having threaded openings to receive the valved nozzles 6. Each ofthe nozzles 6 includes a conduit 7 to serve as a passage for the vaporfrom the vaporizer 1 to a movable sleeve 10 which has projectingsupports 9 forl the hollow articles 18 to be cleaned. The supports 9 ofeach sleeve 10 rest upon a helical spring 8 which surrounds the conduit7 and is suitably supported, at its lower end, to normally hold thesleeve 1() in contact with the stationary member or valve 11 on a stem11a which is carried by a spider 24 disposed in the conduit 7, thecontact between the sleeve 10 and the member 11 being of the nature of avalve against its seat, the sleeve serving as a movable seat for thestationary member or valve 11.

Brackets 12, resting on the cover 3 of the vaporizer 1, support adrippan 13 operatively disposed with respect to the nozzles 6. The drip panhas a cover 14 suitably fastened thereto, a-s by bolts 15 and nuts 16,and provided with openings 17 which permit articles, such as shellcasings 18, being placed about the nozzles.

When two or more vaporizers are used, as shown in the drawings, aconduit 19, having branches leading from the respective dr1p pans,enters a trap 2O and projects below pipes 20a leading therefrom to thelvaporizers. The trap 20 therefore provides a liquid seal to prevent anygenerated vapor from escaping through the return passage for thecondensed vapor. The pipes 20a that connect the tra'p and the vaporizershave valves 21 to govern the ow through them. Pipes 22, which arethreaded in to the bot.- tom of the vaporizers, have valves 23, whichmay be opened to drain the vaporizers.

In operating an apparatus embodying my invention, a volatile solvent ispoured into the vaporizers containing the heating units, i

desirable because of its cheapness. The vapor rising from the heatedsolvent enters the valved nozzles leading from the vaporover the nozzlesto engage andopen` the valves before they engage, and are supported by,the pan covers to cooperate therewith to form substantially air-tightchambers. The hot vapor, coming in'contact with the cooler surfaces ofthe articles beingcleaned, condenses and flows downthe sides of thearticles, thereby cleansing and heating the sur- The condensed vapor,flows into the drip pans 13 disposed beneath the nozzles and isconducted to the trap 20 and from the trap to the vaporizers. The' trap20 serves to maintain the same level of solvent in the vaporizers orcontainers as well as to prevent any vapor escaping from the containersthrough the return passage.

Where the Vapparatus consists of several vaporizers connected to thetrap by pipes having valves, the return flow of condensed vapor may becut off from any selected vaporizer. Under these circumstances, thesolvent in the vaporizer thus cut off will be vaporized and return toother vaporizers of the apparatus, leaving deposits of sediment in thevaporizer which may be removed, after which the vaporizer maybe put backinto service by opening the valve which was used to isolate it.

Various solvents, such as gasoline, benzol, solvent naptha and alcohol,may heV used, the particular solvent to be used depending upon thenature of the foreign material to be removed thereby.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the construction of anapparatus embodyingl my invention Without departing from the spirit yofthe invention and I desire, therefore, thatl no limitations shall beimposed except such as are indicated in the appended claims.

l claim as my invention:

1. A cleaning apparatus for hollow articles comprising a plurality ofvaporizers, a plurality of nozzles leading therefrom,

means for Asupporting articles when posi-- tioned about thenozzles andmeans for returning condensedvapor Yescaping from the articles beingcleaned to any selected vaporizer.

2,' A cleaning apparatus for hollow articles comprising` a plurality ofvaporizers, a plurality of nozzles leading therefrom, means forreturning condensed vapor to any selected vaporizer andmeans forindependently draining the vaporizers.

3. A cleaning apparatus for hollow articles comprising a plurality ofvaporizers, a plurality of nozzles leading therefrom, means forsupport-ing articles when positioned about the nozzles, a branchedconduit for returning condensed vapor to the several vaporizers andvalves in the branches of the conduit.

4. A cleaning apparatus for hollow articles comprising a plurality ofvaporizers, a plurality of nozzles leading therefrom, means forsupporting articles positioned aboutthe nozzles and means for returningcondensed vapor escaping from the articles being cleaned toany selectedvaporizer, said means comprising a liquid sealed trap having conduitsleading therefrom to the vaporizers and valves in the conduits.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th dayof May, 1918.

l PAUL E. DEMMLER.

